Abstract
Objective: To explore the causal effect of time-varying z-BMI growth on early menarche using Mendelian randomisation (MR); to identify critical adiposity predictors of early menarche; to compare the effects of birthweight and time-varying z-BMI growth as mediators of the path from genes to early menarche using mediation analysis. Methods: We used data from the Taiwan Children Health Study with 21 obesity-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to yield genetic (instrumental variable)IVs for adiposity. Children with available data on genotyping, birthweight, adiposity, and menarcheal age were included. Results: In MR analyses, results based on the time-varying z-BMI growth show more statistical power and capture more information of adiposity growth (p = 0.01) than those based on single point z-BMI (p = 0.02). Among adiposity measures, critical predictors of early menarche are fat free mass (RR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.07–1.65) and waist/height ratio (RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.03–1.56). Other potential predictors of early menarche are sum of skinfold (RR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.48) and total body fat (RR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.05–1.38). In both one-mediation and multi-mediation analyses, time-varying z-BMI growth in the prepubertal years plays a crucial mediator in the pathway from the genes to early menarche. Conclusions: This study discovered that greater prepubertal adiposity growth is a crucial mediator in the path from genes to early menarche. For girls with genes positively associated with obesity; and/or of lower birthweight, a strategy to prevent childhood adiposity should be implemented in order to avoid early menarche development.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 445-451 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Obesity Research and Clinical Practice |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2018 |
Keywords
- Adiposity growth
- Birthweight
- Early menarche
- Mediation analysis
- Mendelian randomisation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Nutrition and Dietetics